Clermont shut out Scarlets

Heineken Cup favourites Clermont put in a dominant performance against the Scarlets in Wales, running in four tries in a 29-0 victory.

Heineken Cup favourites Clermont put in a dominant performance against the Scarlets in Wales, running in four tries in a 29-0 victory.

Scores from Napolioni Nalaga, Morgan Parra and Benson Stanley handed the French side a 24-0 lead by half-time, with Rougerie's bonus-point try the only points scored by either side during the second half.

Clermont showed flashes of brilliant handling and power as the Scarlets toiled to keep them at bay, but the Welsh side missed a key opportunity for a try of their own when Josh Turnbull knocked on going over the line.

Nalaga burst through for Clermont's opening try after six minutes following great work from Julien Malzieu - smart handling releasing Nalaga into open space.

Parra added a penalty moments later to stretch the lead to 10-0 after ten minutes.

Parra then grabbed a try of his own - intercepting a Scarlets pass off the back of the scrum from Rob McCusker and scampering in untouched.

The visitors' offloading game continued to find space in the Scarlets defence, but a long series of phases inside the hosts territory resulted in a turnover under the posts.

Clermont showed great patience in attack with some outstanding handling from Parra and Skrela, but the Scarlets fought back and held firm until the latter stages of the first half.

After setting up their attack with a maul from a five metre lineout, Benson Stanley latched onto replacement Radoslavjevic's pass to go under the posts and leave the score at 0-24 by half-time.

Former Scarlet Regan King received a warm reception as he replaced Lee Byrne in a scoreless third quarter.

A series of powerful drives from the Scarlets forwards after a break from Adam Warren led to a great opportunity for flanker Josh Turnbull, but the ball was stripped from the flanker's hands in the tackle and Clermont cleared their lines with ten minutes left.